Gratitude for Great Books

Beth Revis, the awesome author of Across The Universe and A Million Suns, has put together this excellent contest in which we, the book-loving bloggers, give thanks for that special book that changed our lives. In order to enter, go check out the giveaway post here, and then create your own post to give thanks.


Books have been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have read an obscene amount of books in my lifetime, and it all started with this:

The BFG by Roald Dahl

I know some of you are probably wondering why I would pick a book like this, and not something like Harry Potter or Twilight, which seem to be big favorites. Here is why:

Growing up in my family was hard. Very hard. When I was around six or seven, my parents got divorced. I know this happens to people everyday all over the world, but it was different in my family. My mother suffers from depression, she has since before I was born. It wasn't a happy marriage to begin with but the divorce just pushed her over the edge. I can't tell you how scary it is for a child to listen to their parent tell you over and over again how much they wish they were dead. There is no way to know this unless you live it, and I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Everyday was a new day to mess up. You never knew what could set her off and what she would do. I remember having a fight with her before school one morning and being so worried about what was going to happen and crying so hard that the principal had to call my mom so I could make sure she was ok. I have heard the "I was about to kill myself but then your brother knocked on the bathroom door" story so many times that I have lost count. Honestly, I am surprised that my siblings and I are as functional as we are.

Things have gotten better though. She is on some good medication that seems to work most of the time, and we have a pretty good relationship. Am I over everything that happened? Probably not all the way, but I'm working on it and I try not to think about it. I love my mom, crazy or not.

Anyway, I was in second grade when my parents starting having their major issues. I was an extremely shy kid (still am) and for whatever reason my teacher took a liking to me. She read us this book, The BFG, about an orphan girl who is kidnapped in the middle of the night by a giant. A friendly giant. She is taken away from the horrible orphanage that she lives in and becomes friends with this giant and they have great adventures. I was hooked. I would always daydream about being taken away from all the drama at home and live out my happily ever after. Of course that wasn't going to happen, but in a way it was possible. That is when I realized that every book was an escape, a chance to live a different life. Since that moment, I have never been without a book by my side.

So I am thankful for The BFG by Roald Dahl for helping me get through one of the hardest times in my life.

And even though I don't know where you are and haven't seen you in over twenty years, I am so very thankful to you Mrs. Batchelder. Thank you for choosing me as your favorite and for all the extra attention you gave me whether you knew I needed it or not. But most of all, thank you for introducing me to the wonderful world of books.